SOUTH SUDAN: Govt to Seek International Arbitration Over Disputes Borders
Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir informed the African Union Peace and Security
Council (AUPSC) that South Sudan will seek international arbitration over the
disputed border area if the ongoing talks fail.
In his
speech to the National Legislature, the two chambers, on Monday President Kiir
told the MPs that he is determined to not give up claims to any land south of
the 1956 border.
“South
Sudan has never relinquish claims to Pantou, homeland of the Panaru Dinka. So
the record is clear, we also unequivocally claim Magenes-Jida, Kafia Kingi,
Hafra Nahas, Kaka Tijariya, Wheatly Monroe Strip and all territories south to
the 1956 border.”
Kiir who
accused Khartoum of “playing games” told South Sudanese lawmakers
that he has written to member of the African Union Peace and Security Council
(AUPSC) over the possible involvement of the Hague-based Permanent Court of
Arbitration (PCA), if the ongoing post-independence discussions on the matter
fail.
“We are
prepared to subject our claims to scrutiny. I have now written to the members
of the African Union Peace and Security Council to consider this
position,” he added.
Sudanese and
South Sudanese delegations are expected to resume talks on 19 June over
security matters particularly the creation of a buffer zone along the border.
Addis Ababa
talks brokered by an African Union mediation team failed last week to finalize
a deal because the two parties came with different maps.
UN Security
Council adopted on 2 May an AUPSC road map to end difference between the two
countries over the border and oil fees and other outstanding issues after the
capture of Heglig/ Pantou by the South Sudanese army.
The road map
gives the parties a three month period to end the talks and threatened to
impose economic sanctions.
Last Friday
after his return from the meeting of the Joint Political and Security
Mechanism, in Addis Ababa, Sudanese defense minister told reporter that Juba
wants to fail the talks and brings the border dispute before the international
justice.
Juba despite the resumption of talks kept troops mobilizations and continue to
carry out hostile media campaign against each other.
Salva Kiir,
defended his country’s decision to halt oil production, saying it was not
anger-driven, but done in practical terms to protect the interest of the people
and defend the foundations of independence for which lost their lives.
“We
offered almost $3bn [dollars] in assistance for Sudan [to] offset its revenue
losses resulting from our independence. We paid all operating fees for oil
transport. We offered to negotiate a transit fee above and beyond fair market
rates,” Kiir told a fully-packed assembly.
“There
was no lack of generosity in our dealings with Khartoum. Even so, Sudan wanted
more,” he added.
“Having
exhausted all efforts of diplomacy with, we could no longer secure delivery of
crude oil to buyers through the territory of Sudan,” said Kiir as lawmakers
applauded.
Revenues
from oil, prior to the shutdown, accounted for nearly 98 percent of the South
Sudan’s annual budget.
The
President also briefed MPs of events that transpired during their recess
period, particularly on the AUPSC communiqué, which was later adopted by the UN
Security Council (UNSC) in its resolution 2046. The resolution, he said, called
for the complete withdrawal of both Sudan and South Sudanese troops from the
disputed oil-producing Abyei region.
According to
the President, while South Sudan complied and withdrew its forces 10km away
from the 1956 border, Sudan reportedly disagreed, which culminated into last
week’s deadlock on the ongoing talks facilitated by the AU High Level
Implementation Panel (AUHIP).
The
President also said his office, through the country’s Vice-President, Riek
Machar is currently looking at the possibility of renewing the mandate of the
UN Mission in South Sudan (UMISS), which on 9, July this year. He said more
attention will be focused on the renewal of Chapter Seven mandate of the UN, a
decision, which he noted was taken after a careful study.
“We are
confident that the Security Council will consider our views with full respect
for the sovereignty of South Sudan,” he observed.
SOURCE: allafrica.com
